Bowl season just isn't what it used to be. My dad was talking to me the other day about the glory days when there were only a handful of bowl games each season. Now, it feels like there are a million of them. Getting to college football's postseason just isn't as meaningful as it once was.
That doesn't mean the games themselves can't be a fun time. From Snoop Dogg's Arizona Bowl all the way to the national championship, there’s some fantastic football to be played here in December and January.
My family and I pick every bowl game each season. My picks have never come under the scrutiny of the masses, but today that changes. Below are my picks for all 47 bowl games, including the College Football Playoff.
It needs to be noted that there have already been two bowl games played: the Celebration Bowl and the Salute to Veterans Bowl. For what it's worth, I picked South Carolina State and South Alabama in those games, respectively. So, I’m starting this bowl pick ’em campaign at .500.
There’s no in-depth analysis for many of these picks. It's all about vibes and feelings, which is mostly what bowl season is about anyway.
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
Matchup: #25 Memphis (10-2) vs. West Virginia (6-6)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 17
Time/Network: 8 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Memphis
Boca Raton Bowl
Matchup: Western Kentucky (8-5) vs. James Madison (8-4)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 18
Time/Network: 4:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: James Madison
Art of Sport LA Bowl
Matchup: California (6-6) vs. #24 UNLV (10-3)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 18
Time/Network: 8 PM - ESPN
My Pick: UNLV
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Matchup: Georgia Southern (8-4) vs. Sam Houston (9-3)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 19
Time/Network: 6 PM - ESPN2
My Pick: Georgia Southern
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Matchup: Ohio (10-3) vs. Jacksonville State (9-4)
Date: Friday, Dec. 20
Time/Network: 11 AM - ESPN
My Pick: Ohio
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Matchup: Tulane (9-4) vs. Florida (7-5)
Date: Friday, Dec. 20
Time/Network: 2:30 PM - ESPN2
My Pick: Florida
College Football Playoff First Round
Matchup: #10 Indiana (11-1) at #7 Notre Dame (11-1)
Date: Friday, Dec. 20
Time/Network: 7 PM - ABC/ESPN
My Pick: Notre Dame
College Football Playoff First Round
Matchup: #11 SMU (11-2) at #6 Penn State (11-2)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 21
Time/Network: 11 AM - TNT/Max
My Pick: Penn State
College Football Playoff First Round
Matchup: #12 Clemson (10-3) at #5 Texas (11-2)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 21
Time/Network: 3 PM - TNT/Max
My Pick: Texas
College Football Playoff First Round
Matchup: #9 Tennessee (10-2) at #8 Ohio State (10-2)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 21
Time/Network: 7 PM - ABC/ESPN
My Pick: Ohio State
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Matchup: Coastal Carolina (6-6) vs. UTSA (6-6)
Date: Monday, Dec. 23
Time/Network: 10 AM - ESPN
My Pick: UTSA
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Matchup: Northern Illinois (7-5) vs. Fresno State (6-6)
Date: Monday, Dec. 23
Time/Network: 1:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Northern Illinois
Hawai'i Bowl
Matchup: South Florida (6-6) vs. San José State (7-5)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 24
Time/Network: 7 PM - ESPN
My Pick: South Florida
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Matchup: Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Toledo (7-5)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 26
Time/Network: 1 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Pittsburgh
Rate Bowl
Matchup: Rutgers (7-5) vs. Kansas State (8-4)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 26
Time/Network: 4:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Kansas State
68 Ventures Bowl
Matchup: Arkansas State (7-5) vs. Bowling Green (7-5)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 26
Time/Network: 8 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Bowling Green
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Matchup: Oklahoma (6-6) vs. Navy (9-3)
Date: Friday, Dec. 27
Time/Network: 11 AM - ESPN
My Pick: Navy
Birmingham Bowl
Matchup: Georgia Tech (7-5) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
Date: Friday, Dec. 27
Time/Network: 2:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Georgia Tech
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Matchup: Texas Tech (8-4) vs. Arkansas (6-6)
Date: Friday, Dec. 27
Time/Network: 6 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Arkansas
DirecTV Holiday Bowl
Matchup: #21 Syracuse (9-3) vs. Washington State (8-4)
Date: Friday, Dec. 27
Time/Network: 7 PM - FOX
My Pick: Syracuse
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Matchup: USC (6-6) vs. Texas A&M (8-4)
Date: Friday, Dec. 27
Time/Network: 9:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Texas A&M
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Matchup: UConn (8-4) vs. North Carolina (6-6)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/Network: 10 AM - ESPN
My Pick: North Carolina
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Matchup: Boston College (7-5) vs. Nebraska (6-6)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/Network: 11 AM - ABC
My Pick: Nebraska
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
Matchup: Louisiana (10-3) vs. TCU (8-4)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/Network: 1:15 PM - ESPN
My Pick: TCU
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Matchup: #18 Iowa State vs. #13 Miami
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/Network: 2:30 PM - ABC
My Pick: Iowa State
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Matchup: Miami-OH (8-5) vs. Colorado State (8-4)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/Network: 3:30 PM - The CW Network
My Pick: Colorado State
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Matchup: East Carolina (7-5) vs. NC State (6-6)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/Network: 4:45 PM - ESPN
My Pick: NC State
Valero Alamo Bowl
Matchup: #17 BYU (10-2) vs. #23 Colorado (9-3)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/Network: 6:30 PM - ABC
My Pick: BYU
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Matchup: Louisiana Tech (5-7) vs. #22 Army (11-2)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time/Network: 8:15 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Army
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Matchup: Iowa (8-4) vs. #19 Missouri (9-3)
Date: Monday, Dec. 30
Time/Network: 1:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Missouri
ReliaQuest Bowl
Matchup: #11 Alabama (9-3) vs. Michigan (7-5)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
Time/Network: 11 AM - ESPN
My Pick: Alabama
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Matchup: Louisville (8-4) vs. Washington (6-6)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
Time/Network: 1 PM - CBS
My Pick: Louisville
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Matchup: #15 South Carolina (9-3) vs. #20 Illinois
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
Time/Network: 2 PM - ABC
My Pick: South Carolina
Kinder's Texas Bowl
Matchup: Baylor (8-4) vs. LSU (8-4)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
Time/Network: 2:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Baylor
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Potential Matchup: #6 Penn State (11-2) vs. #3 Boise State (12-1)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
Time/Network: 6:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Penn State
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Potential Matchup: #5 Texas (11-2) vs. #4 Arizona State (11-2)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1
Time/Network: 12 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Arizona State
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl
Potential Matchup: #8 Ohio State (11-1) vs. #1 Oregon (13-0)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1
Time/Network: 4 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Oregon
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Potential Matchup: #7 Notre Dame (11-1) vs. #2 Georgia (11-2)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1
Time/Network: 7:45 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Notre Dame
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Matchup: Duke (9-3) vs. #14 Ole Miss (9-3)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 2
Time/Network: 6:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Ole Miss
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Matchup: North Texas (6-6) vs. Texas State (7-5)
Date: Friday, Jan. 3
Time/Network: 3 PM - ESPN
My Pick: North Texas
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Matchup: Minnesota (7-5) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)
Date: Friday, Jan. 3
Time/Network: 6:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Virginia Tech
Bahamas Bowl
Matchup: Buffalo (8-4) vs. Liberty (8-3)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 4
Time/Network: 10 AM - ESPN2
My Pick: Liberty
College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl
Potential Matchup: #4 Arizona State (11-2) vs. #1 Oregon (13-0)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 9
Time/Network 6:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Oregon
College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Potential Matchup: #7 Notre Dame (11-1) vs. #6 Penn State (11-2)
Date: Friday, Jan. 10
Time/Network: 6:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Penn State
College Football Playoff National Championship
Potential Matchup: #6 Penn State (11-2) vs. #1 Oregon (13-0)
Date: Monday, Jan. 20
Time/Network: 6:30 PM - ESPN
My Pick: Oregon
Last year I went 25-19 with my picks. I'm hoping for a better record this time around. Picking these games is tough. Getting more right than wrong is an accomplishment in and of itself.
Happy bowl season everybody. Let's all have a great time.